Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment
{{Short description|EU funded community development programme in Pakistan}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE), is a four-year project funded by the European Union.{{cite news|title=Tar Patar finds light at the end of the tunnel|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/903573/power-woes-tar-patar-finds-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=15 June 2015}}{{cite news|title=PTI-led KPK govt inaugurates micro hydro project in Kalam|url=http://www.thenewsteller.com/local/pti-led-kpk-govt-inaugurates-micro-hydro-project-in-kalam/16523/|newspaper=The Newsteller|date=28 May 2015}} and implemented by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP).{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/168759-EU-to-continue-support-for-development-of-marginalised-areas-ambassador|title=EU to continue support for development of marginalised areas: Ambassador|last=Khankhel|first=Essa|date=30 November 2016|publisher=The News International}}{{Cite journal|last=Dobbs|first=Ellen|last2=Wheldon|first2=Anne|last3=Sharma|first3=Chhavi|date=2016-10-07|title=15 years of development in access to off-grid renewable electricity: insights from the Ashden Awards|url=https://factsreports.revues.org/4214|journal=Field Actions Science Reports. The Journal of Field Actions|language=en|issue=Special Issue 15|pages=150–159|issn=1867-139X}} It was launched in 2013 in all districts of Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, namely, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Chitral and Malakand Agency.{{cite news|title=Empowering local communities: Olive trees spell greener days for Lower Dir's farmers|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/861345/empowering-local-communities-olive-trees-spell-greener-days-for-lower-dirs-farmers/|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=31 March 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/142320-KP-govt-implementing-reform-agenda-Khattak|title=KP govt implementing reform agenda: Khattak|date=14 August 2016|publisher=The News International}}
Project details
The Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE) commenced after an agreement worth € 40 million was signed between the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) and the European Union (EU).{{Cite web|url=http://www.heis.com.ba/?opcija=pregled_vijest&jezik=eng&vid=167|title=Technical Appraisal and Monitoring of a Micro-Hydel Programme in Pakistan|date=4 January 2014|publisher=Hydro Engineering Institute Sarajevo}} The project runs under the principles of financial sustainability and equitable sharing of benefits with the community for social development purposes.{{cite news|title=Work on EU-funded power project launched|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/29855-work-on-eu-funded-power-project-launched|newspaper=The News International|date=18 March 2015}}{{cite news|title=Use of electric dryers brings dividend for Swat fruit farmers|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1221639|newspaper=DAWN|date=18 March 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://arynews.tv/en/150-kv-micro-hydro-power-house-inaugurated-in-chitral/|title=150 KV Micro Hydro Power House inaugurated in Chitral|last=Farooqui|first=Gul Hammad|date=26 July 2016|publisher=ARY News}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1242263|title=Villagers happy as they get a bridge|last=Khaliq|first=Fazal|date=27 February 2016|newspaper=DAWN|language=en}}
= Hydro electricity =
Under the PEACE project 62% of the funding is utilised for generation of community run micro-hydro power units in the project areas.{{cite news|title=CM reiterates commitment to community development|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/72693-cm-reiterates-commitment-to-community-development|newspaper=The News International|date=12 November 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/145312-3-micro-power-projects-completed-in-far-off-Chitral-villages|title=3 micro-power projects completed in far-off Chitral villages|date=26 August 2016|publisher=The News International}} Hydro power stations under the project are primarily built in areas where there is no active national grid or where such grid stands disrupted.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1299805/eu-ambassador-inaugurates-power-station-in-swat|title=EU ambassador inaugurates power station in Swat|date=1 December 2016|newspaper=DAWN}} Communities contribute time and labour, known as "sweat equity", which creates a sense of ownership and helps sustain the projects.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1245011|title=Women benefit most from 'smart villages' in Pakistan's Hindu Kush|last=Cheema|first=Abdur Rehman|date=2016-03-11|newspaper=DAWN}} The MHPs are run as a social enterprise and its earnings are spent on the welfare of local communities,{{cite news|title=Power up: Hydro project to light up 13,000 houses in Chitral |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/854756/power-up-hydro-project-to-light-up-13000-houses-in-chitral/|newspaper=The Express Tribune}}{{cite news|title=New initiatives: PTI chairman promises a "different" LG system|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/595546/new-initiatives-pti-chairman-promises-a-different-lg-system/|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=27 August 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/161140-Ashuran-Power-House-starts-production-in-Kalam|title=Ashuran Power House starts production in Kalam|date=31 October 2016|publisher=The News International}} particularly women.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/168929-Project-good-example-of-govt-donor-collaboration-Ambassador-Cautain|title=Project good example of govt-donor collaboration: Ambassador Cautain|date=1 December 2016|publisher=The News International}} Electricity is generated harnessing the small glacier-meltwater rivers that drop steeply off soaring mountains.{{cite news|title=Son, you brought electricity to the village and added 15 years to my life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/12/pakistan-electricity-village-micro-hydro-ashden-award|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 June 2015}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.pakistanherald.com/news/10888/24-may-2016/power-plant-inaugurated-in-upper-dir|title=Power plant inaugurated in Upper Dir|date=24 May 2016|newspaper=Pakistan Herald}}
The European Union under the PEACE project has funded the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) to set up 240 micro hydropower plants,{{cite news|title=Make your own electricity: A tale of Swat's restless heroes|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1186944 |newspaper=DAWN|date=10 June 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/146090-KP-to-generate-100MW-micro-hydropower-projects|title=KP to generate 100MW micro-hydropower projects|date=29 August 2016|publisher=The News International}}{{Cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/732027/at-long-last-kalam-gets-electricity-after-six-years/|title=At long last: Kalam gets electricity after six years.|date=2014-07-07|newspaper=The Express Tribune|language=en-US}} in the Malakand Division. In general, PKR 4/unit is charged for domestic and PKR 7-10/unit is charged for commercial use.{{cite news|title=Bringing hydro power to the rural areas of Pakistan |url=http://energy-access.gnesd.org/cases/48-sarhad-rural-support-programme.html|publisher=GNESD Energy Access Knowledge Based}}
= Community infrastructure =
A significant portion of the funds are allocated to the building or restoration of basic infrastructure such as road, bridges, water channels etc.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1142648|title=Road link to Chitral village restored after four years.|date=6 November 2014|newspaper=DAWN}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/535043-bridge-brings-joy-to-remote-villages-in-chitral|title=Bridge brings joy to remote villages in Chitral.|date=6 November 2014|website=The News International}}{{Cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1004653/timely-assistance-solar-plants-provided-to-chitral-hospitals/|title=Timely assistance: Solar plants provided to Chitral hospitals|date=6 December 2015}}{{Cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/678598/lowari-tunnel-chitral-left-out-in-the-cold/|title=Lowari Tunnel: Chitral left out in the cold - The Express Tribune|date=2014-03-04|newspaper=The Express Tribune|language=en-US}}
Environmental aspect
Electricity from hydro schemes cuts down the use of wood for cooking, heating and lighting, consequently reducing deforestation which is a huge problem in the region. The hydro schemes also cut greenhouse gas emissions, by virtually eliminating the use of kerosene lighting, cutting the use of diesel generators, and also reducing the use of unsustainable wood. A detailed breakdown has not been made of fuels replaced, but an indication of the significance can be made by assuming that the estimated 110,000 MWh of electricity generated each year replaces diesel generation producing around 0.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide per MWh. This suggests a substantial greenhouse gas saving of around 88,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ashden.org/files/case_studies/SRSP%20Pakistan.pdf|title=Winner case study summary: Sarhad Rural Support Programme, Pakistan.|date=2015|publisher=Ashden Award for Increasing Energy Access, supported by the IKEA Foundation Award}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ashden.org/winners/SRSP15|title=The power of water brings new life to mountain villages|date=2015-06-05|newspaper=Ashden Awards, sustainable and renewable energy in the UK and developing world}}{{Cite web|url=http://webwidemedia.net/rspn/index.php/about-us/awards-recognition|title=Awards & Recognitions {{!}} RSPN|website=Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN)}}{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/804936/what-the-smart-villages-of-pakistan-can-teach-us-about-energy|title=What the 'smart villages' of Pakistan can teach us about energy|last=Cheema|first=Abdur Rehman|date=12 March 2016|newspaper=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}
Pakistan is only producing 128 out of a potential of 3,100 MW of electricity from small hydropower projects.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thethirdpole.net/2016/03/10/the-smart-villages-of-northern-pakistan/|title=The "smart villages" of northern Pakistan|last=Cheema|first=Abdur Rehman|date=2016-03-10|website=The Third Pole}}{{Cite web|url=http://earthjournalism.net/stories/hurry-up-with-the-micro-hydro|title=Hurry up with the micro hydro|last=Cheema|first=Abdur Rehman|date=21 July 2015|website=Earth Journalism Network}}
Recognition
In 2015 the Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE) project earned the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) an Ashden Award for Increasing Energy Access.{{Cite web|url=http://web.unep.org/ourplanet/december-2015/articles/blazing-trail|title=Blazing the Trail : Our Planet|last=Butler Sloss|first=Sarah|date=2015|publisher=United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.eco-business.com/press-releases/green-energy-awards-seek-sustainable-energy-pioneers-in-asia/|title=Green energy awards seek sustainable energy pioneers in Asia|date=8 September 2015|publisher=Eco-Business}}{{Citation|title=Ashden Award Ceremony|date=2016-09-06|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-utaxWJujQ}} In 2017 the project attracted the National Award given out by the Energy Globe Award in Pakistan for supplying electricity to off-grid areas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.energyglobe.info/pakistan2017?cl=en|title=National Energy Globe Award Pakistan 2017|website=Energy Globe}}